If You're a Brother, Come and Cut Me! [Thanks to Feng Yi for Being the Helmsman!]

Morning Dawn Peak is located eighteen miles east of Sword-Wielding Mountain. The mountain is not small, but there are not many people. They are mainly responsible for simplifying and improving the ancient Cultivation Method within the sect.

In most sects, a Myriad Laws Elder is usually appointed to oversee this matter.

Zongzhi Mountain has always been skilled in sword forging, and the remaining fragments of Cultivation Method are all of low level, so naturally they can't be improved. Most of the Cultivation Method he teaches now are purchased from the Dao Alliance or other sects.

Therefore, Morning Dawn Peak is an extremely unpopular major within the sect. The disciples it accepts are usually less talented, have low status within the sect, receive little salary, and have a bleak future.

Last time, Xiao Ran cleaved Morning Dawn Peak in two with a single sword strike, and the sect subsidized Morning Dawn Peak with a large sum of Spirit Stone, doubling the salaries of all the disciples within the peak.

After that, many disciples would sit on the top of the West Slope every day, gazing in the direction of the Sword-Wielding Mountain, hoping that one more sword would come.

Unfortunately, after a few days, no more sword energy was released from Sword-Wielding Mountain. All that could be heard was the wailing of Uncle-Master Xiao as he was kicked down the mountain by Sword-Wielding Elder, his arms and legs broken.

Gradually, fewer and fewer disciples remained on the sidelines, and only two ordinary disciples persisted until the end.

One of them was named Wang Tiezhu.

One of them was named Han Erleng.

Life on Morning Dawn Peak was too monotonous, and there was no way forward. The two waited for Sword-Wielding Mountain to send their swords, hoping to see if they could cut open a hidden cave and find some mysterious little green bottle or heaven-defying bead inside.

They were both people with average talent but dissatisfied with the status quo and still harboring fantasies about life. After all, what's the difference between a person without dreams and a salted fish? After completing a day's tedious tasks, the two sat on the West Slope, dreaming about the future.

"When I was a child, I felt that I would have a wonderful adventure in my life and soar to great heights. Unfortunately, in this Dharma Ending Era, my wonderful adventure has been buried."

"It's not necessarily about having a miraculous encounter. If a great being with discerning eyes can see my hidden talent, I will surely be able to achieve great things."

"Sigh, speaking of hidden talents, I never thought that in the Dharma Ending Era, the sect could still produce a genius like Uncle-Master Xiao. Sword-Wielding Elder usually seems crazy, but he really has a discerning eye."

"Not only Uncle-Master Xiao, but also Senior Sister Jiang, the two most talented young people in Zongzhi Mountain are now both on Sword-Wielding Mountain. As long as they shine a little, we can benefit from it because we are close by."

"I really misunderstood Sword-Wielding Elder before. I never imagined that she was so strict with her disciples. Uncle-Master Xiao was constantly breaking arms and legs and was often thrown down the mountain. A strict teacher produces outstanding students. Uncle-Master Xiao has also gone through countless trials and tribulations to achieve what he has today."

"It's a pity that the elder hasn't been demonstrating swordsmanship much lately. I really want her to do it again."

"If you split Morning Dawn Peak, the Sword-Wielding Elder will also have to take responsibility. Do you really think she's stupid?"

"Sigh, if she doesn't use a sword, it will be difficult to hurt our Morning Dawn Peak... unless she can throw Uncle-Master Xiao at us like a stone."

"What nonsense are you thinking? Uncle-Master Xiao only has the cultivation of Qi Refining Cultivation Level. Even if he smashes a person to pieces, he can't possibly damage a single flower or blade of grass on Morning Dawn Peak."

"Sigh, in the end, it's the Dharma Ending Era that makes people despair. And the cultivation on Morning Dawn Peak is too boring. What are we thinking about here, letting our imaginations run wild?"

The two of them also felt bored, so they dusted themselves off, got up, and prepared to return to their Disciple Quarters.

"Wait, something seems to be flying from the direction of Sword-Wielding Mountain— "

"So fast!"

The words had barely left his mouth when, before the two could react, a deafening boom resounded...

The West Slope collapsed!

Like a human-shaped cannonball striking the mountaintop, Xiao Ran was kicked away by his Master and crashed straight into the soil and rocks on the West Slope, carving out a sinkhole.

Xiao Ran instantly used the Resonance Power to deflect the impact, causing the entire Morning Dawn Peak to tremble, rumbling and booming for a long time.

Han Erleng and Wang Tiezhu got up from the flying dirt and rocks.

"Am I seeing things? I think I just saw Uncle-Master Xiao!"

"It's over, it's Uncle-Master Xiao! That smash will leave him either dead or crippled!"

"My jinx! The Sword-Wielding Elder really did send my martial uncle here..."

As they talked, the two of them busily dug away the soil and rocks buried in the giant pit.

Finally, after digging three zhang (approximately 10 meters) into the ground, they unearthed Uncle-Master Xiao.

The person is still alive!

More than just living...

Xiao Ran patted his bottom, calmed himself down, and relieved his dizziness.

Master has been very irritable lately... Is it his period again?

Fortunately, at the moment he smashed the mountain, he activated his second-tier Resonance Power, which reduced the force by more than 90%.

Despite the commotion, the person was unharmed, suffering only minor cuts and no fractures.

This was far below Xiao Ran's expectations.

He had assumed that even with the activation of the second-tier Resonance, fractures and internal organ ruptures would still be inevitable.

Nothing happened.

They stubbornly endured it!

Could it be that after cultivating to the Qi Refining Ten Thousand Layers, his Qi Sea became infinitely large, instantly distributing the force of the attack and thus greatly increasing his defense? Just then, two disciples from Morning Dawn Peak who had dug the hole found him and asked him in surprise, "Uncle-Master Xiao, are you alright?"

"The mountaintop was almost smashed through by yours, yet you're completely unharmed!"

Xiao Ran frowned.

"You still want something from me?"

Han Erleng hurriedly said, "No, no, Uncle-Master, you misunderstand. This disciple was just too shocked to be so amazed!"

Xiao Ran glanced at the two of them.

What are your names?

"Wang Tiezhu".

"Han Erleng".

One was slightly overweight and dark-skinned, the other slightly fair-skinned and thin; both looked like ordinary Foundation Establishment disciples.

Judging from his name, he was a country bumpkin with no background and average talent, which is why he was assigned to Morning Dawn Peak.

Eager to confirm his defensive capabilities, Xiao Ran brushed the dirt off his clothes and said to the slightly fairer and thinner man:

"You, draw your sword and cut me."

Han Erleng for a moment, and subconsciously asked:

"Did your uncle hurt his head?"

Xiao Ran's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he only explained, "I'm practicing martial arts! With your paltry Cultivation Level, how could you possibly hurt me! If you're a brother, come and fight me!"

Han Erleng hurriedly said, "Master Uncle is a senior, how can he be a brother?"

Wang Tiezhu, on the other hand, remained calm and determined not to miss this opportunity to become sworn brothers with Uncle-Master Xiao, so he decided to try his luck.

We cultivators have nothing to fear in a battle! So he drew his Spirit Sword, gathered its spiritual sharpness, and slashed at Xiao Ran's shoulder.

This time, Xiao Ran did not use the Resonance Power to deflect the force, but directly used his Qi Refining Spiritual Power to counter it.

The moment the sword blade struck his shoulder, the sharpness of the Foundation Establishment sword instantly spread out, rushing straight towards Xiao Ran's Dantian, washing over the vast and boundless Qi Sea.

It didn't cause a ripple.

Using only the physical force of the sword strike, he managed to cut open Xiao Ran's shoulder.

The blade struck the bone but didn't penetrate deeply.

After all, the sword's physical cutting power is not great, and Xiao Ran's body tempering has always been very strong due to the Art of Resonance.

Xiao Ran saw things clearly this time!

His Boundless Qi Sea provides incredibly strong defense against Spiritual Power attacks.

I never imagined that Qi Refining Ten Thousand Layers would possess such terrifying defensive power. No wonder it was rated as Earth-tier Cultivation Method.

Combined with the physical defense achieved through Resonance Power, the two are stacked together.

His current defensive power is definitely at the Nascent Soul Level!

And that's not all...

High defense means he can continuously use basic attacks without worrying about enemy attacks.

If you use normal attacks enough, you'll eventually trigger a critical hit!

In this way, the prototype of his entire combat system was completed.

Next, all you need to do is pour a large amount of Spiritual Power into your Qi Sea.

Wang Tiezhu slashed at Xiao Ran's shoulder with his sword, but only broke the skin.

Han Erleng breathed a sigh of relief. He truly deserved to be called the prodigy who saved Flamefree City!

"Is this the Golden Bell Cover Iron Shirt technique, Martial Uncle?"

"How could that be? My uncle resisted your sword's sharpness with his vast Qi Sea; he is a man of great magnanimity."

A person with a large capacity for tolerance, is that alright?

Xiao Ran nodded, thinking to himself that as expected of a disciple of Morning Dawn Peak, he knew quite a lot about Cultivation Method.

Han Erleng was amazed and complimented, "I didn't expect that you would actually be practicing so late at night, Uncle! Are all the people on Sword-Wielding Mountain this dedicated?"

Xiao Ran gave a casual reply.

"There's no other way. We're about to participate in the Heaven's Chosen Assembly, and we can't let our sect down."

Wang Tiezhu chimed in.

"That's right, that's right."

Xiao Ran turned to leave, but then heard Han Erleng say again:

"Uncle-Master, look, the West Slope of Morning Dawn Peak is smashed like this, and a newly built Disciple Quarters has collapsed. Could you..."

Xiao Ran was stunned. He didn't expect these two Foundation Establishment cultivators to be so bold as to try and extort money from him.

"I risked my life to practice martial arts for the sake of my sect's reputation, and you two are trying to extort money from me?"

Han Erleng looked troubled:

"That's true, but Sword-Wielding Mountain is a big player, while Morning Dawn Peak is dirt poor. We just finished building the Disciple Quarters and spent too much money. We really can't afford such a loss."

Xiao Ran's tone turned cold as he looked at his shoulder injury.

"Can Morning Dawn Peak afford the losses from attacking the Dao Alliance's prodigies?"

"You--"

"This..."

The two were speechless, completely taken aback by Xiao Ran's trickery.

Before they could react, Xiao Ran had already left Morning Dawn Peak on his sword, leaving behind only a sinkhole and the two stunned people.

When Xiao Ran returned to Sword-Wielding Mountain.

Lingzhou Yue was sitting cross-legged on the pine root, with her hands on her chest, waiting for him.

"You dare to come back?"

Despite saying that, I was still a little worried, wondering if I had hit too hard just now.

He glanced at Xiao Ran's injuries and saw that the biggest wound on his body was a sword cut to his shoulder.

Could it be that there was a conflict with Morning Dawn Peak's coaching position?

Lingzhou Yue got up to go, but Xiao Ran stopped her.

"Even Master's kick couldn't hurt me, and even if everyone on Morning Dawn Peak were together, they couldn't possibly hurt me."

He held down his Master and even took the opportunity to praise him.

Xiao Ran then explained, "I suddenly realized I was too strong, so I deliberately ordered people to kill me."

Lingzhou Yue's long eyelashes fluttered slightly as she looked Xiao Ran up and down, her clear, sparkling eyes shimmering with light.

Even if she had withdrawn her strength after that kick, and even if Xiao Ran's Resonance Power was incredibly profound, it would be unreasonable to say that several ribs were broken.

Sudden!

An incredible thought flashed through her mind.

"You haven't already reached the Qi Refining Ten Thousand Layers, have you?"

Xiao Ran nodded.

"That should be true."

Lingzhou Yue frowned.

How many floors are there?

"It's reached 100,000 floors."

"Puff--"

Sake spilled all over Xiao Ran, its aroma mingling with the fragrance of a fairy's breath.

Xiao Ran raised his hand and used his inner energy to dry his green robe, saying only:

"Learning an Earth-tier Cultivation Method isn't something anyone can do, is it? Master doesn't think this thing is too difficult, does he?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a footprint was etched on his face, and he shot out like a missile, piercing through Morning Dawn Peak.

Merry Chrismas!